Ian's News Extras

North-East needs a strong voice

This come after Peter Hain said the time could now be right for the issue of a North-East Assembly to be raised again.

Ian, who backed a regional assembly last time round, is an advocate of the region having its own assembly now.

Ian said

"The North-East needs a strong voice to take on a distant Whitehall government in London and especially to fight for the region against an increasingly powerful Scotland. They have got the power and the wherewithal to deal with it, whereas we are reliant on central government.

"Local Enterprise partnerships, intended to replace OneNorthEast haven't got the resources the boost the region's economy.

"I think we have got to seriously look at how the North East can cope with all of this with a strong voice working on behalf of the region, and that could include a serious re-examination of regional government.

"Unfortunately, I don't think the coalition government will offer anything like what the regions needs in this respect."

Davey in demand

Ian wants Mr Davey to look again at feed in tariffs for solar power which is putting many Tyneside jobs under threat.

Ian said,

"I think he should take another long hard look at finding a way that helps the industry cope with the transition to a reduced feed-in tariff, but also have a reduced feed-in tariff that the industry can cope with."

Tyneside company Carillion, formerly Eaga, stands to lose may jobs if the feed in tariff is cut because that makes the installation solar panels on homes much less attractive in financial terms for families to afford.

The government tried to halve the tariff but lost a court case over the timing of the cut. However, the government is appealing that decision.

Think again on solar panels

Yesterday the Court of Appeal ruled against the government cutting the subsidies while the consultation period was still going on, but the government is to appeal against that decision so the cut can still go ahead.

Ian said,

"I would ask the Secretary of State to think again and think about how to make this industry sustainable for it to grow and protect jobs."

Scrap cash for scrap

The aim is to stop the epidemic of metal thefts which cause chaos on the rail system, heartbreak for families when name tablets are ripped from memorials and damage electrical equipment when the grid is attacked.

Ian said,

"We are behind the cash ban but also the courts need to understand the problem is not the value of the scrap metal, but reinstating the job of what that scrap metal was doing before it was stolen."

"To take one example of the disruption to ordinary families this causes, when thieves stole cable from an electricity substation in Gateshead a few months ago it caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage to household electrics because of a power surge."

But some people say the cash ban won't be effective because there is also a large illegal and hidden scrap metal trade.

Work experience for young people

Gary Thompson the Managing Director of C2M and Martin McDonnell from Economic Development in Gateshead Council with Ian (right)

He is now compiling a directory of employers who are taking part following a business breakfast Ian hosted at Gateshead Civic Centre on Friday.

The scheme aims to help young people 18-24 years of age, unemployed and living locally. Employers are free to choose the candidate that they can best help by offering work experience placements of 8 weeks. Placements are unpaid (unless employers have resources to pay) but Ian said it would be great if employers could help with travel expenses.

Ian said,

"This scheme is specifically designed for local young people who don't have contacts to break the 'experience' barrier so if firms can help it would be excellent. I also appreciate that many local employers already have their own schemes up and running and if this is the case I would be happy to advertise their details.

"We, I am sure, had all hoped that youth unemployment at current levels were a thing of the past. None of us want a return to the waste of the past that had so many negative consequences for our whole society."

There will be an awards event in Gateshead for employers and young people in order that successful candidates will receive a 'work experience certificate' to show future employers.

East Coast upgrade needed

He points out that the first phase of High Speed only goes as far as Birmingham, and it could be decades before the North-East sees any benefit.

Ian said,

"From a North-East perspective, it is an investment that will only pay dividends someway down the line. It could be several decades before the economic impact hits the North-East because the initial investment only delivers a link between London and Birmingham.

"It's vital that the East Coast Main Line is upgraded at the same time as the initial phase of the high-speed route."

Mick has experience

But he adds that this is an issue the party would need to discuss. The new commissioner would replace the current police authority and is a scheme being brought in by the coalition government.

Ian said,

"It is an issue that the party needs to discuss. I think Mick as leader of Gateshead Council but also chairman of the police authority for a number of years has a wealth of experience which would lend itself to that role."

Mr Henry says he is still considering the matter and does not rule himself out of contention.

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